A pond relining schedule often ends with “refill and return fish.” Those few words conceal several decisions that deserve attention before the pond is emptied. The new lining must be ready for its intended exposure. The water, circulation and filtration must be suitable for the fish. Someone must also own the transfer and the monitoring that follows. Plan those decisions together, but keep their acceptance evidence separate. That makes it easier to resolve a delay without moving koi simply because the coating crew has finished. Arrange the fish's temporary home before the outage Ask an experienced pond-care professional to plan temporary holding around the actual fish, expected outage and available equipment. Record the fish population and relevant health concerns. Identify who will supervise holding, check water conditions and respond if the construction schedule changes. The temporary arrangement needs its own water-management plan. Include filtration, aeration, weather prote...